Clasp



March l5 1927 A, FRICKER CLASP Filed June 4, 1923 grt/manto@ APatented .Man 15,v 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY lEIRlCKl'slR, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO. l A

CLASP.

Application led .Tune 4,

This invention relates to clasps,'such as are used for temporarily binding together thick masses of paper sheets, tiles or the like, up to thicknesses of an inch or so. The present clasp is an improvement upon the clasp described and claimed in my prior patent for clasps, No. 1,493,072, granted May 6, 1926.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved clasp of the character described in which one or both of the clasp arms is so formed as to provide adjacent the arm contacting portions at the inner end of the clasp mouth a region where the arms do not contact, thereby enabling paper sheets and the like` after passing through the clasp mouth and between the contacting portions at the inner end'thereof, to be readily and easily moved or guided without undue resistance to the" inner contacting portions of the clasp arms. Buckling and shifting of the paper sheets or the like, while inserting them in the clasp, are therefore avoided, materially increasing the eiiiciency of the clasp.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in partl will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawing, which represents one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a! perspective view of my limproved clasp; Fig. 2 is an edge View thereof.; Fig. 3 is a. similar view with the clasp arms shown separated.

As-illustrated in the drawing, the clasp is made from a single strip of steel of any suitable Width and length, one satisfactory size being about three quarters offan inch wide and approximately six inches long. The head,indicatedenerally at 1, is in the form of a loop or leye kjoiningthe twoA arms 2, which lie substantially parallel and substantially in contact over an appreciable portion of their'length` due to the formation of the clasp in amanner to impart inherent tension thereto, such that the normal position of the arms. if they could pass each other. would be at approximately right angles to each other. This effect is secured in the present clasp by forming` the eye 1, with two side -bends 3 and an end bend 4. said bends being put into the metal of the tempered' strip so that subsequent tempering is un-A necessary.

The side and end bends 3, 4 are formedin a manner to overbend vthe material, or in 1928. Serial No. 643,282.

l 've 60 the arms suiicient resiliency and holfilng ability.

In the form shown, oneof the arms 2 of the clasp is longer than the other, say approximately an inch longer, and the end of the shorter arm is flared outwardly, as at v5, to form@ mouth 6 adapted to readily receive the edges of the sheets of paper or the like to be inserted in the clasp.

An aperture 7 may be provided in one side of the eye 1 or in the inner end portion of one of the arms 2, so that if desired, the clasp can be readily suspended in vertical position.

The clasp so --far described is identical' with the one described and claimed in my co-pending application before referred to. In the present improved clasp, one'or both of the clasping arms 2 is so formed as to provide a space 8 between the two arms'adthe present illustration, this space is provided bv depressing the metal of the shorter arm at the rear or inner end of the flared end portion 5, as clearly indicated at 9, Fig. 3. which. purely for purpose of illustration, shows the clasp arms separated by a small 'block' 10. When the block 10. Fig. 3, is ref moved the clasp arms assume the position shown 1n Fig. 2, the inherent tension in the shorter arm causing the metal thereof adjacent said depression to arch or curve away from the other arm and thereby provide the space 8. This spacelenables kpaper sheets or the like, after having passed through the mouth ofthe clasp and between the pinching contacting ortions 9 and 11 of the' arms at the inner end of the mouth, to be. readily and easily moved or guided between the arms vto the inner contacting portions 12. 13 of the arms. which. with contacting portions 9, 11, seeurelv and firmly bind together the ypapers or the like and hold them in proper position `in the, clasp. By the'provision of this spa-ce adjacent the mouth of the clasp, buckling and shifting of the paper sheets. etc., whileinserting them into the clasp` are avoided` thereby materially increasing the eiiiciency of the clasp. Moreover, the depressed portion 9 engages the other arm with increased jacent to and back of the mouth 6. In]

pressure, which effectively assists in preventing *shifting of the paper sheets or the like l in the clasp.

gions and adjacent the outer one thereof and rmote from the other a region where the arm portions do not contact, whereby articles passed between the outer contacting arm portions may be readily moved between the non-contacting Varm portlons to the inner contacting arm portions.

2. A clasp having two spring metal arm port-ions contacting intermediate their ends, one of said arm portions being provided near its outer end with a depressed portion whereby the two arm portions contact at this point, said depressed portion being so formed as to provide between said Contactin arm portions and adjacent the outer one t iereof a space between said arm portions, whereby articles passed between the outer contacting portions may be readily moved to the inner contacting arm portions.

3. A clasp having two spring metal arins contacting intermediate their ends, one of said arms being provided between its said contacting portion and its free end and at a point remote froin the former with a projection extending into contact with the other clasp arm, said projection providing a rcgion between said projection and said intorinediate contacting arm portions and adjacent said projection where the clasp arms do not contact.

In testimony whereofI I hereby aiiix my signature. A

ANTHONY FRICKER. 

